How To Make Debt Collector Harassment Stop!

If you've lost your job, had a medical emergency or any other cause of income loss, you could be one of the millions of people facing the problem of unpaid debt. Miss If you miss your payments a few times, then you can expect a call from a debt collector.

Calls from debt collectors trying to find you at your place of employment can turn into a humiliating situation. You may already be feeling nervous, your chest tightening as you realize it could be them ringing you- again.

Although not all debt collectors are insensitive and criticizing they do likely have to toughen themselves for many of the terrible stories given to them as explanations for debts which are past due. They are also very often rewarded for their efforts in debt collection with commissions based on the amount which has been obtained. It is therefore quite simple to see why it isn’t uncommon for desperate individuals to fear coming across some aggressive collectors who won’t take no for an answer.

"What Are The Debt Collectors Allowed to Do?"

Debt collectors can contact you by phone or in person, by mail, by telegram or by fax; when you are at home or even at work - unless your employer disapproves. They aren’t allowed to ring or visit you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless there there was a prior agreement.

They are allowed to contact your lawyer if you have one. They may from then onwards contact other people in order to find out your telephone number, work place or address, but usually they are not allowed to contact them more than once and cannot inform them that you have debts.

"Do I Have The Choice To Be Contacted Or Not? "

If you actually do owe a debt you can ask the collector not to contact you by sending him a letter. After that, they are then allowed to contact you only once in order to let you know that they will not be contacting you as well as what actions will be taken.

Of course, stopping contact won’t rid you of your debt. If you think your debt is not justified, then you should make that clear in your letter.

"What To Do If I Am Being Harassed?"

There is a bureau called the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), which has a policy on Fair Debt Collection in order to protect consumers. Knowing your rights will strongly deter even the most strong-minded collectors as they already know the law and are putting pressure on you on the assumption that you don't know.

Debt collectors are in no way allowed to put pressure, abuse or harass you or any other people you know - that includes offensive language, intimidation., threats of violence or repeated calling in an effort to annoy.

No debt collector can pretend to be government agents, lawyers or representing a credit bureau if they aren’t. Also, they have no right to imply to you that they are sending legal documents if they are not or that you have broken the law, if you have not.

They cannot seek legal action; including seizing your property or garnishing wages unless they have legal right to.

You can find more information regarding your rights from the FTC. If you would like to denounce an agent you can do so by contacting the FTC or your general lawyer. If your debt collector is breaking the law you have the right to seek legal action.

Article Source: http://www.debtfinancearticles.com.

About the Author:
Elliott Dawson is a contributing real estate editor at http://www.debtfinancearticles.com/. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.